A new law that would mandate government officials to prioritise local airlines for official trips would soon be sent to the National Assembly for legislative scrutiny, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace, Festus Keyamo, has said.

The new law, to be known as the ‘Fly Nigeria Act’, would soon be sent to the National Assembly. It would help to boost the country’s aviation industry by requiring that all government-funded official trips be taken using Nigerian airlines.

This is just as Keyamo said that a previously strained relationship with the UAE has been mended, which led to the resumption of flight operations on October 1, 2024.

He added that the welfare of local airlines has been prioritised through negotiations with international partners to support their development.

Keyamo said, “We are in the process of pushing the Fly Nigeria Act to the National Assembly. There is a Fly America Act, and I believe there is also a Fly India Act. Most major countries have their own ‘Fly Act’ to promote their national airlines.

“Only when a local airline does not operate on a particular route can an international airline be used.”

According to Keyamo, the Fly Nigeria Act is not just an aviation policy but also a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s economy.

“This will be enacted as a law. We are unsure how nationalism will influence its reception, but it is a key policy push from us,” he added.

Speaking further, the Minister said this administration is the first to make the support of local airlines a primary objective.

“Across Africa, governments typically sponsor or support their national carriers, but in Nigeria, aviation has been entirely driven by private participation.

“It is essential to focus on private airlines that serve our domestic and regional airspace, creating policies that foster their growth and development while ensuring active government support for the sector.

“The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has made remarkable improvements, particularly in revamping Hajj terminals across the country. Several terminals were reopened last year, and more are set to be rehabilitated this year.

“We have also taken decisive action against the misuse of private chartered planes for illegal activities, which has resulted in revenue losses for the federal government.”

Mr Keyamo noted that over the past decade, approximately ₦120bn has been lost due to unauthorised charter operations.

To address this, a task force was established dedicated to curbing illegal airline operations.

Additionally, African and Aerospace University, which is now fully operational and open to international students, was engaged.

The minister encouraged prospective applicants to take advantage of this opportunity.

He added that Abuja and Lagos airports have been recognised for their excellence in safety and emergency management, winning prestigious awards and securing re-certification.

“We also visited Boeing at their invitation after they identified Nigeria as the next major hub for the airline business.

“This visit resulted in the signing of an MOU that has already begun yielding benefits. Last year, Boeing trained pilots for private airlines in Nigeria at no cost, marking the success of this partnership.

“The ministry aims to set up a policy called the Fly Nigeria Act, which will be presented to the National Assembly to promote local airlines,” Keyamo said.
The minister said, Nigeria’s inability to fully comply with the Cape Town Convention has affected its capacity to lease or acquire aircraft, as the country was not represented on the relevant committee.